Loose helmets

December 6, 2013 8:13 PM

After the Steelers game on Thanksgiving, a lot of people are talking about the helmet rule in the NFL. This is leading them to discuss the number of concussions as well. I look at both of these problems as one and the same.

Anyone who has ever played football growing up will tell you that putting on and taking off your helmet was a pain because of how tight it fit. To get it off you had to unbuckle the straps, grab the helmet with two hands at the ear holes, and yank it off your head. You usually had imprints of the padding in your hair and forehead since it was a tight helmet.

Go ahead and watch a couple of the games this Sunday. You will see 99 percent of the players grab the helmet by the facemask with one hand, and slide it off their head with ease. I bet you will see a helmet or two fall off as well.

The blame can’t be placed entirely on the NFL since the players probably pick the looser helmet. If the NFL wanted to make the game safer and prevent concussions, then they would ensure that players are wearing the proper-fitting equipment and not continue to allow them to play with loose helmets.

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